Michał Stekla
We had the opportunity to play briefly with the new TCL television and can already share our initial, original measurements with you. And they look really promising. The TCL C8K is this year's representative of the "premium for everyone" segment – a Mini LED television that aims to compete with much more expensive competitors. On paper, we get almost everything: a 120 Hz (144Hz) panel, local dimming, Dolby Vision, HDMI 2.1 ports, game mode, and excellent brightness. But how does it perform in practice? For now, we will share what we managed to measure and notice in the first moments of contact with this model. And we warn you – it will be really bright!
Appearance of the TCL C8K: a big change, bold decisions and a silver frame
C8K or QM8K? Don’t worry, it's the same television. Across the ocean, TCL has chosen the name QM8K, but in Europe, the manufacturer sticks to the well-known convention – the letter “C” is reserved for models with QD-MiniLED backlighting. But let’s leave those names behind – let’s focus on what truly impresses at first glance. And that is… a completely new design.
TCL has opted for a silver, aluminium frame – a decision, it must be said, is bold, especially since most manufacturers still aim for classic, dark finishes. However, that's just the beginning. The biggest surprise (in a positive way!) is the fact that the television lacks a black bezel around the panel – yes, you read that correctly. This solution, which we have previously seen in high-end constructions such as the Samsung QN900 (or currently QN990F), is now arriving in a model priced nearly four times lower. It’s a huge positive change!
There are also subtle design details that are meant to underscore the C8K model’s aspirations to the premium segment. One of them is the visible Bang & Olufsen logo – this company has replaced Onkyo this year as the partner responsible for providing the audio system in this model. Will this lead to a real improvement in sound? We hope to find out in a full test very soon.
Another basis depending on the size
It is also worth noting that the base of the television varies depending on the diagonal size. The C8K model is available in sizes ranging from 65 to 98 inches. The "smaller" versions of 65", 75" and 85" are equipped with a central stand. However, in the case of the largest 98-inch giant, the manufacturer has used two widely spaced legs to ensure stability for a structure weighing nearly 61 kg!
Black, contrast and HDR brightness – does nearly 4000 zones make a difference?
TCL C8K, the European twin of the QM8K, looks like a piece of equipment that has something to prove on paper. The 98-inch version has been equipped – brace yourselves – with as many as 3840 zones of local dimming. Yes, you heard correctly. Nearly four thousand independent dimming areas is a result that embarrasses most of the competition, and as it turns out, completely crushes some. But paper is one thing. What about practice? We decided to check this out because numbers are one thing, and the picture is another.
We haven't measured the contrast yet, but even during short live tests, it was clear that scenes with a starry sky look significantly better than in last year's C855. Details in the shadows were sharper, and the halo effect – much less noticeable.
Synthetic Brightness Tests
However, the most impressive aspect was the brightness. In movie mode, on the 10% HDR panel, TCL C8K achieved up to 3500 nits. Yes, you read that right – over three thousand nits in a television that still fits within a reasonable budget. For reference, the best MiniLED of 2024, the Sony Bravia 9, achieves a very similar result. And it costs twice as much!
Brightness tests in films
We wouldn't be ourselves if we didn't test the C8K in real film scenarios as well, and not just on test benches – and here the picture still leaves a very good impression, although not quite as spectacular. In the most demanding conditions, such as full-screen with high brightness, the TV maintains a level of around 1700–1800 nits, and in the most difficult scenes – like the night sequence from Sicario 2 – the brightness drops to about 620 nits. This is still a significant improvement compared to the C855, which simply looked noticeably worse in such scenes.
Improved viewing angles! Finally!
* In the short clip above, in which Maciej discusses his first impressions of using the television, the difference between the classical VA matrix and the WHVA panel is clearly visible.
This year's C8K model from TCL has positively surprised us – the classic VA matrix, which has been the Achilles' heel of the Chinese manufacturer for years, has been replaced. Instead, a WHVA (Wide View VA) panel has been used, which is a VA variant with noticeably wider viewing angles. What is the effect of this? The image retains good brightness and colour saturation even when slightly off-axis. This is a huge change compared to previous models, where it was enough to shift slightly on the sofa for the blacks to start resembling grey. Such a level of viewing angles in VA matrices had previously been reserved mainly for top models like the Sony Bravia 9 or Samsung's QN90/QN900 series. Now TCL joins this group – and at a much lower price!
GoogleTV – the first impressions are surprisingly... positive?
During the first moments spent with the new TCL C8K, we did not notice any annoying stutters or slowdowns, which unfortunately had been commonly associated with the GoogleTV experience from this manufacturer. Switching between applications, navigating the menu, or launching content – everything worked smoothly and without a hitch.
Of course, we had the television in our hands for too short a time to issue a final verdict (this will appear soon on our site) – only longer usage will show how the system performs under heavier loads, with installed applications, or after several updates. Nevertheless, we quietly hope that TCL has indeed taken to heart the numerous comments from users and improved those minor but irritating bugs that previously detracted from the enjoyment of using GoogleTV. If that is the case – it will be another significant step forward.
The C8K may be a hit for gamers – 144 Hz, acceleration to 288 Hz and as many as four HDMI 2.1 ports!
We haven't had the opportunity to test the television in gaming mode yet, but we can already say that the TCL C8K looks very promising for gamers. First of all – a 144 Hz panel is already something, but the manufacturer has added what is known as an "accelerator" up to 288 Hz. How does this work in practice? We don't know – it probably refers to classic frame interpolation (that is, a smoother), but if they have managed to achieve an effect similar to Game Motion Plus known from Samsung televisions, it could be a huge improvement!
An even bigger plus? Four HDMI 2.1 ports!
Until now, only two inputs supported full HDMI 2.1, and one of them had to serve as eARC, which limited the ability to connect two consoles and a soundbar. Thanks to the new Mediatek chipset, the C8K offers four full HDMI 2.1 ports, which will be great news for anyone with more than one console or audio setup with eARC. J
If TCL hasn’t messed up the input lag and everything works as it should, this could be one of the most cost-effective MINI-LED televisions for gaming in 2025. We will check this out very soon!
TCL C8K: Will this be a hit in 2025?
First impressions? The TCL C8K may not only shake up the market – it could really turn it upside down. The new design with an aluminium frame and absence of a black bezel makes a great impression. Brightness? Over 3000 nits in movie mode and nearly 4000 dimming zones in the largest variant. These are not only impressive parameters on paper but also visibly noticeable changes in movie scenarios. Additionally, better viewing angles thanks to the WHVA panel, up to four HDMI 2.1 ports, a fast Google TV system (we hope without stutters this time), and a promise of strong features for gamers. Already, the price of the C8K model looks very attractive, especially since TCL has been positioning its televisions as they will be priced throughout the year. So, if you are eager for a quick purchase of a good Mini LED, everything indicates that the C8K is one of the better candidates in this category.
Is it an OLED killer? Probably not. Certainly, it's too early for such declarations, but TCL is finally showcasing a premium class product that not only looks but also performs like something high-end, and yet does not come with a six-figure price tag.
